Lady&#39;s compact construction



March 19, 1968 w. J. LANDEN 3,373,892

LADY'S COMPACT CONSTRUCTION Filed March 18, 1966 INVENTO R wuu/rlfims'lA/vzav BY 2; ATl RNEY d/f/ United States Patent 3,373,892 LADYS COMPACT CONSTRUCTION William James Landen, Cheshire, Conm, assignor to The International Silver Company, Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Mar. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 535,400 1 Claim. (Cl. 220--31) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention contemplates essentially a two-piece plastic container construction, particularly useful as a ladys compact, wherein the cooperative hinge elements are integrally formed upon molding the' lid or cover part and the body part, respectively, assembly being completed merely by press-fit insertion of a hinge pin through aligned bores in the hinge elements. The hinge elements are so configurated that, when the container is closed, the hinge is virtually unnoticable from above, so that the aesthetic appearance of the container design may be unmarred; the configuration of the hinge elements is further such that the lid may be opened at least 180 from closed position, and to an extent permitting positive support of both lid and body parts on a single horizontal working surface, to facilitate automated assembly of mirror and powder-cake elements into the container.

My invention relates to a hinged-container construction and has particular application to that type of container which is used as a ladys compact for cosmetic powder or the like.

In compacts of the character indicated, it is conventional to insert a mirror in the lid and to insert a powderloaded pan in the body of the container. These operations are performed by the cosmetic house, since the container manufacturer supplies only the container. Prior container constructions, particularly those formed of molded plastic parts, have exhibited certain disadvantages, including (a) the need to employ an additional metal hinge assembly if the body and hinge are to open far enough for simultaneous support on a horizontal work surface, or (b) an inability to open to such extent, using integrally formed plastic hinge elements, without having such hinge elements project so far radially outwardly of the container outline as to materially destroy the aesthetic appeal of the container design.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved container construction which specifically avoids the above-noted disadvantages of prior constructions.

Stated generally, it is an object to provide an improved container of the character indicated, comprising essentially molded-plastic body and cover parts, integrally formed with cooperating hinge elements which are substantially unnoticeable when the container is closed but which nevertheless will permit the cover to be opened at least 180 (from closed position) to permit flat support of both the cover and the body, for loading purposes.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be pointed out as will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation showing a container incorporating features of the invention, the lid or cover being partly open;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but in section, and with the lid fully open and resting on the same flat work surface as the body of the container;

0 "ice FIG. 3 is a plan view of the fully opened container;

FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the integral hinge portions of the lid and body parts of the container;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views of the underside of the hinged regions of the container, shown in partly open position and in closed position, respectively; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but viewed from above.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates essentially a two-piece plastic container construction, particularly useful as a ladys compact, wherein the cooperative hinge elements are integrally formed upon molding the lid or cover part and the body part, respectively, assembly being completed merely by press-fit insertion of a hinge pin through aligned bores in the hinge elements. The hinge elements are so configurated that, when the container is closed, the hinge is virtually unnoticeable from above, so that the aesthetic appearance of the container design may be unmarred; the configuration of the hinge elements is further such that the lid may be opened at least from closed position, and to an extent permitting positive support of both lid and body parts on a single horizontal working surface, to facilitate automated assembly of mirror and powder-cake elements into the container.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the invention is shown in application to a ladys powder compact comprising a body part 10 and a lid or cover part 11, the body being recessed todesired depth to later receive, as by press-fit insertion, a metal pan 12 which may have been preloaded with a cake of cosmetic powder. The lid 11 is also recessed to a desired depth to later receive, by insertion, an adhesive-backed mirror 13; the mirror recess 14 is preferably deeper than the thickness of mirror 13 and is formed with a wall surface that is perpendicular to the mirror surface. The parts 10-11 are integrally formed with cooperating hinge elements at 15, and actuating lug or ear elements 16-17 are also formed integrally with the parts 10-11, to facilitate opening the container. The essential parts 10-11, with their integral hinge and actuator elements, are of one-piece molded construction, employing conventional molding techniques and plastic materials, such as high-impact strength polystyrene. Hinge pin 18 inserted through aligned bores on axis 18' (FIG. 4) completes assembly of the container.

In accordance with the invention, the integral hinge elements of body and lid parts 10-11 are so configurated as to achieve the above-stated objects. The body 10 is shown formed with two spaced hinge bosses 20-21 which straddle and thus locate a single hinge boss 22 formed in the cover 11. The body bosses 20-21 are formed as parts of a peripherally continuous outer flange or rim 23 of the body 10; preferably, the upper surface of flange 23 is flat and in a plane which includes the hinge axis 18'. A similar flange or rim 24 peripherally continuously frames the mirror recess 14 of the lid 11 and has a lower surface which is flat and in a plane which includes the hinge axis 18 so that these continuous fiat surfaces intimately face each other when the container is closed. The inner wall of the body recess for powder insert 12 preferably extends upwardly beyond flange or rim 23 as part of a peripherally continuous upwardly projecting lip 25. The lip 25 is designed to closely but removably fit within the cover recess 14. Also, the peripherally continuous nature of the flange 23-24 and lip-recess 25-14 interfits is such as to assure sealing effectiveness against loss of powder. This fit also provides protection against hinge strain when the container is closed.

The actuator ears or lugs 16-17 may be designed into the outer contour of flanges 23-24 and may be provided 3 with integral snap-engaging elements (not shown) to retain a closed relation of parts. In FIG. 3, the engaged relation of parts 16-17 is suggested by the dotted outline 17 for cover lug 17 when closed adjacent body lug 16.

The exposed parts of hinge bosses 20-21-22 are seen to be generally cylindrical and on the same radius about the hinge axis, the hinge axis being located within the outer confines of flanges 23-24. The thickness of cover flanges is preferably at least the radial extent of the cylindrical boss surfaces and in the form shown is slightly greater, so that a maximum extent of the upper surface of lid 11 may cover the body hinge bosses 20-21; this relation is shown in FIG. 2, wherein the underside of flange 24 is cylindrically concave at 26 to clear and yet conceal most of hinge bosses 20-26. A cut-out or recess 27 in flange 23, between bosses 20-21, affords clearance for entry of that projecting part 28 of boss 22 which represents continuation of the upper (outer) contour of lid flange 24, and hinge action is limited by abutment at 27-28. It will be seen that the depth of cut-out 27 determines the extent to which hinge action may be made to exceed 180, and of course this extent will depend upon the desired depth of powder recess in the body 10.

It will be seen that I have provided an improved twopiece container involving only the addition of the hinge pin 18 to complete assembly. The hinge support is rugged, maintaining precise alignment of parts on closure. These hinge features are provided without sacrifice of peripherally continuous sealing effectiveness, and the hinge parts are virtually unobservable when the container is closed and set in flat upright position, to display the aesthetic virtue of the overall Container design, whatever that may be. Additionally, for assembling mirror 13 and powder 12 components, the empty container may be firmly and stably supported on a single flat horizontal surface (suggested at 29) with the cover deriving direct support at an angle which is short of that determined by abutment at 27-28.

While I have described the invention in detail for the preferred form shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the claim which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. A hinged container construction, comprising a unitary integral molded plastic body member and a unitary integral molded plastic lid member, said body member having a central upwardly open pocket capacitated to receive and retain an inserted tray or pan of cosmetic substance, said body member having a base beneath said pocket and of at least the effective cross-sectional area of said pocket and configurated for stable support of said body member on a flat supporting surface, said body member also including a peripherally continuous flange extending laterally outwardly of the open end of said pocket, said body flange having a flat upper surface, the lid member being formed with a similar flange having a flat face adapted to overstand the fiat surface of said body flange when in closed position, interengaging peripheral ridge and recess parts on said body and lid members and in alignment with the peripheral limits of said pocket for locating said lid member on said body member when in closed position, interfitting hinge-lug means forming part of the body and lid flanges at a hinge location on the periphery of said flanges, a pin uniting said hinge-lug means on a hinge axis lying in the planes of both said flat surfaces, and cooperating abutments on said flanges at the hinge location at locations offset from the hinge axis and interfering with each other to limit hinged movement of said lid member with respect to said body member, said limit being effective at a lid-open position such that, when the base of said body member is on a fiat supporting surface, said lid member may be fully open and may rest on said supporting surface without interfering with the stable support of said base on the same supporting surface, whereby an opened container may be unambiguously oriented and supported by a flat surface for automated loading of the pocket with an inserted tray or pan of cosmetic substance.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,362,120 11/1944 De Swart 2203l X THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

JAMES B. MARBERT, Examiner. 

